John 6:65 Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me

Spoken to
Apostles

After Jesus plays with the idea of eating his flesh as bread, and jokes that he may have pushed those statements too far.

KJV

John 6:65 Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

NIV

John 6:65 “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

LISTENERS HEARD

Through this, I have proclaimed to you that no one has the power to come toward me unless it is possible, having been given him from the Father.

MY TAKE

This might not be funny unless the joke is given by the Father.

LOST IN TRANSLATION

A complicated verse because it uses a kind of double negative. The first is "no one has the power." The negative comes from the subject, "no one." The verb meaning "having power" is translated as "can," but that doesn't capture its meaning since the noun form means "power" and is the word from which we get "dynamo" and "dynamic." The second negative is in the "when" clause, which is "when not," which is translated as "except" and "unless." That negative negates a verb that means, in the context of power, "is possible." So the these is "unless it might be possible, having been given to him by the Father." This is a very convoluted phrasing that might be funny if said correctly, at least in the Greek.

In a sense, this verse equates his "bread from heaven" and "eating flesh" statements with simply having the power to come to him, given by the Father.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES
9
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "through" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "this" is not shown in the English translation.
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "therefore" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "said" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "said" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "having proclaimed."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "unto" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb  "were" is the present tense, not the past tense.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "given" is not an active verb but a participle, "having been given."
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb  "were given" is the past tense, but the verb is the past perfect tense.
  • OS -- Outdated Source -- The Greek word translated as "my" existed in the KJV Greek source but not the source we use today.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "the" before "father" is not shown in the English translation.
# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES
11
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "through" is not shown in the English translation.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "told" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb "told" is the present tense, but Greek is in the past perfect, a completed action, "having proclaimed."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "to" does not capture the specific meaning of the word.
  • WT - Wrong Tense - The English verb  "were" is the present tense, not the past tense.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "it exists" is not shown in the English translation.
  • MW - Missing Word -- The word "from" is not shown in the English translation.
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "enabled" should be something more like "given."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "enabled" is not an active verb but a participle, "having been given."
  • WV - Wrong Voice - The verb "enabled" here is translated as active but it is "having been given."
  • WN  - Wrong Number- The word "them" is translated as plural but the Greek word is singular.
EACH WORD of KJV

missing "through"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "through" means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method. With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."

missing "this"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." It usually comes after the noun, emphasizing it.

Therefore -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "therefore" in the Greek source.

said -- (CW, WT) The verb translated as "it was said," means "to pronounce", "to mention", " "to announce", "to proclaim,"   and, in the passive, as used here, "to be pronounced", "to be mentioned", "to be specified", "to be agreed," and "to be promised." This is an uncommon verb for Christ to use to refer to simply saying or speaking, used primarily in the "commandment updates." There are three other verbs that are commonly used to mean "to say," "to speak," and "to tell." This verb is a more serious meaning, "to proclaim" or "to pronounce," and a lighter meaning "to be mentioned" and "to be pronounced." However, Jesus often uses more unusual words for humorous effect, which seems to the case here. The tense is not the past but the past perfect, "have proclaimed."

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

no man -- The Greek word translated as "no man" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative nouns. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

can - The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates having ability or power. This is the active verb in the sentence not the following word.

come --  The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

unto -- (CW) The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards." The verbs "before" or "towards" work best so as not to confuse with the dative case (see "unto" above).

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

except -- - - "Except" is from a phrase that literally means "when not". The negative used in it is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" or "think" something, not that it isn't done or thought. However, this is the negative used in a "when" or "if" clause because it considers something a possibility.

it -- This is from the third-person, singular form of the verb.

were -- (WT) The verb "were" here is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." This is not a helping verb, like we have in English. It is in the present tense, not the past. The sense is "it exists."  The "it" refers to the power to come.

given -- (WF, WT) The verb translated as "given" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give." Here, it is in the form of a passive participle, "having been given."

unto -- This word "unto" comes from the dative case of the following word that requires the addition of a preposition in English. The most common is a "to" for the English indirect object.

him -- The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

of -- (CW) The Greek preposition translated as "of" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by"based upon its context. However, in Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases that are translated into English "of" phrases.

my -- (OS) There is nothing in the Greek that can be translated as "also" in the source we use today but it does exist in the source that the KJV translators used.

missing "the"  -- (MW) The untranslated word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

Father. -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

EACH WORD of NIV

missing "through"  -- (MW) The untranslated word  "through" means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," or "by (a cause)." It indicates movement through a place or time, but it also means "by" the sense of "by means of" a given method. With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."

This - The word "this" means "from here" "from there" or "this/that thing/person here/there." It usually comes after the noun, emphasizing it.

I -- This is from the first-person, singular form of the verb.

told -- (CW, WT) The verb translated as "told" means "to pronounce", "to mention", " "to announce", "to proclaim,"   and, in the passive, as used here, "to be pronounced", "to be mentioned", "to be specified", "to be agreed," and "to be promised." This is an uncommon verb for Christ to use to refer to simply saying or speaking, used primarily in the "commandment updates." There are three other verbs that are commonly used to mean "to say," "to speak," and "to tell." This verb is a more serious meaning, "to proclaim" or "to pronounce," and a lighter meaning "to be mentioned" and "to be pronounced." However, Jesus often uses more unusual words for humorous effect, which seems to the case here. The tense is not the past but the past perfect, "have proclaimed."

you,  -- The Greek pronoun "you" here is plural and in the form of an indirect object, "to you," "for you," etc. 

that -- The word translated as "that" introduces a statement of fact or cause, "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

no one -- The Greek word translated as "no one" also means "no one," "nothing," and other negative nouns. However, to avoid the English double-negative, we translate it as its opposite "anyone" when used with another Greek negative.

can - The word translated as "can" means having the power or possibly a desire to accomplish something. Often, in English, "can" is a helper verb, indicating a possibility. In Greek, it indicates having ability or power. This is the active verb in the sentence not the following word.

come --  The word translated as "come" primarily means "to start out" but Christ usually uses it to mean "come" but not always. It indicates movement, especially its beginning, without indicating a direction toward or away from anything, so it works either as "start," "come," or "go," but it is more like our phrase "being underway." Our English word "show up" captures both the "start" and "come" ideas. See this article for more.

to -- (CW) The word translated as "to" means "towards," "by reason of (for)," "before" both in time and place, "in the presence of," "against," and several other types of "before." With verbs of seeing it specifically means "towards." The verbs "before" or "towards" work best so as not to confuse with the dative case (see "unto" above).

me, -- "Me" is the regular first-person pronoun in Greek as the object of the verb or preposition.

unless -- - - "Unless" is from a phrase that literally means "when not". The negative used in it is the Greek negative of a subjective opinion, commands, and requests. The sense is that "you don't want" or "think" something, not that it isn't done or thought. However, this is the negative used in a "when" or "if" clause because it considers something a possibility.

missing "it exists"  -- (MW) The verb is the common form of "to be" in Greek. It means to have a certain characteristic or remain in a certain condition. It also equates terms or assigns characteristics. With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." This is not a helping verb, like we have in English. It is in the present tense, not the past. The sense is "it exists."  The "it" refers to the power to come.

missing "from"  -- (MW) The untranslated word "from" means "out of" or "from." The word also means "beyond," "on," "in," "since," or "by"based upon its context. However, in Greek, they use the genitive case instead of a preposition for the types of phrases that are translated into English "of" phrases.

the  -- The word is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more. 

Father. -- "Father" is the Greek noun that means "father" or any male ancestor so "forefathers." It is the word that Christ uses to address his own Father.

has -- This helping verb "has" indicates that the verb is the tense indicating an action completed in the past.

enabled -- (WW, WV, WF) The verb translated as "enable" means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe." It is almost always translated as some form of "give." Here, it is in the form of a passive participle, "having been given."

them.” -- (WN) The word translated as "him" is the Greek word commonly translated as third-person pronouns in English.  The word means "the same" when used as an adjective. In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV

Διὰ [88 verses](prep) Untranslated is dia which means with the genitive "through," "in the midst of," "in a line (movement)," "throughout (time)," "by (causal)," "for (causal)," "among," and "between." With the accusative, it can also be "thanks to," "because of,"  "by reasons of," and "for the sake of."

τοῦτο [93 verses](adj sg neut acc) Untranslated is touto, which means "from here," "from there," "this [thing] there," or "that [person] here."

εἴρηκα [10 verses](verb 1st sg perf ind act) "I said"  is ero, which means "to speak", "to say", "to pronounce", "to tell", "to let suffice", "to announce", "to proclaim," (in passive) "to be pronounced", "to be mentioned", "to be specified", "to be agreed," and "to be promised."

ὑμῖν [289 verses](pron 2nd pl dat) "To you" is humin the plural form of su the pronoun of the second person, "you."

ὅτι [332 verses](adv/conj) "That" is hoti, which introduces a statement of fact "with regard to the fact that," "seeing that," and acts as a causal adverb meaning "for what," "because," "since," and "wherefore."

οὐδεὶς [69 verses](adj sg masc nom) "No man" is oudeis which means "no one," "not one," "nothing," "naught," "good for naught," and "no matter."

δύναται [61 verses](3rd sg pres ind mp) "Can" is the verb, dynamai, which means "to have power by virtue of your own capabilities," "to be able," and "to be strong enough."

ἐλθεῖν [198 verses](verb aor inf act) "Come" is erchomai, which means "to start," "to set out," "to come," "to go," and any kind of motion. It means both "to go" on a journey and "to arrive" at a place.

πρὸς [92 verses](prep)  "Unto" is from pros, which means "from (place)," "on the side of," "toward," "before," "in the presence of," "in the eyes of," "before (supplication, a judge, a witness)," "near" a time, "for" the moment, "proceeding from (for effects)," "dependent on," "derivable from," "agreeable," "in comparison with," "becoming," "like," "at the point of," "in addition to," "against," and "before."  It also means "dependent upon."

με [49 verses](pron 1st sg masc acc) "Me" is eme, which is the objective first-person, objective, singular pronoun that means  "me."

ἐὰν μὴ [8 verses](conj particle) "But" is ean me, which means "when not." "When" is ean, which is a conditional particle (derived from ei (if) and an (might), which makes reference to a time and experience in the future that introduces but does not determine an event. "Not" is (me) is the negative used in prohibitions and expressions of doubt meaning "not" and "no." It has the sense of not wanting or thinking about something. 

[614 verses](verb 3rd sg pres subj act) "It were" is eimi, which means "to be," "to exist," "to be the case," of circumstance and events "to happen,"  and "is possible." With the genitive object, the sense is "belongs to." It can also mean "must" with a dative.

δεδομένον [147 verses](part sg perf mp neut nom/acc) "Given" is didomi, which means "to give," "to grant," "to hand over," "appoint," "establish," and "to describe."

αὐτῷ [720 verses](adj sg masc dat) "Him" is autos, which means "the same," and the reflexive pronouns, "myself," "yourself," "himself," "herself," "itself," or the oblique case of the pronouns, "him," "her," and "it." It also means "one's true self," that is, "the soul" as opposed to the body and "of one's own accord." In the adverbial form, it  means "just here" or "exactly there."

ἐκ [121 verses] (prep) "From" is ek, which means 1) [of motion] "out of," "from," "by," "away from;" 2) [of place] "beyond," "outside of," "beyond;" 3) [of succession] "after," "from;" 4) [of rest] "on," "in," 5) [of time] "since," "from," "at," "in;" 5) [of materials] "out of," "made from;" 6) cause, instrument, or means "by."

τοῦ [821 verses](article sg masc nom)  "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the").

πατὴρ [191 verses](noun sg masc nom) "The Father" is pater, which means "father," "grandfather," "author," "parent," and "forefathers."

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